The government of Peru has declared a three-month public health emergency due to an unusual spike in cases of what is usually a very rare neurological disorder. Since January, 182 cases of the so-called Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) have been registered in the South American country, the Ministry of Health announced this weekend.
Four of the affected patients died. 31 patients are still in hospital, the remaining 147 have been released. GBS is a nerve disorder that often starts with tingling and numbness and can lead to muscle weakness and paralysis. An overshooting autoimmune response damages nerves to such an extent that they can no longer transmit stimuli.
The Zika virus can also be a trigger
Guillain-Barré syndrome is usually preceded by an upper respiratory or gastrointestinal disease, such as an infection with the Campylobacter bacteria. Dengue and Zika viruses can also be triggers. Usually it remains in isolated cases, outbreaks are rare.
However, a larger wave was recorded in Peru in 2019. From May 20 to July 27, 683 suspected or confirmed GBS cases were identified, according to a 2020 analysis presented in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases. In French Polynesia, a wave of GBS cases in 2013/14 followed a wave of Zika infections.
Strong increase in the past week
“We currently have the disease under control,” Peru’s Health Minister César Vásquez told reporters. As the number of cases has increased significantly in recent weeks, it has become necessary to act. There was initially no information about the reasons for the increase. Infections with the bacteria Campylobacter jejuni were considered the most likely cause of the major outbreak in 2019.
The state of emergency ensures that hospitals receive enough medicines to treat the syndrome. In addition, epidemiological surveillance is being intensified and the reference laboratories for the analysis of samples are being strengthened. A corresponding order was published in the official gazette of the country, which has a population of nearly 34 million.
Source: Krone
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